Month: October 2016

Trick Or Treat

1951 – In Muscatine on Wednesday, October 31, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Colder, around 40°.  Got 1 gallon alcohol in car – good to 18° above.  Workers topped big tree in back yard.  TV at night.  Stan went tricks & treats.”

That New Car Itch

In Muscatine on Tuesday, October 30, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30.  Drove Bosch’s new Buick home & back to plant.  Helen feeling good.  Kids out to trick or treat at night.  Much cooler at night, 34°.”  Above: a 1951 Buick.

Nice Day

In Muscatine on Monday, October 29, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30 at Muscatine plant.  Frank Arth called from St. Paul, sick leave.  Bosch has a new Buick.  Beautiful bright day.  Whole family feeling good.  TV in evening.”

Good Dinner

In Muscatine on Sunday, October 28, 1951, Dale wrote, “Up late.  Put storm windows on & covered the back screen door.  Watched TV football in the afternoon.  Had baked chicken for dinner.  TV at night.”

The Usual Routine

In Muscatine on Saturday, October 27, 1951, Dale wrote, “Went to the store.  Took kids to a show in the afternoon.  Watched football on TV.  Chilly & damp.”

Home At Last

On Friday, October 26, 1951, completing his temporary assignment in Omaha, Dale drove back to Muscatine, stopping in Osceola for supper.  He wrote, “Home by 10:45 p.m.  Glad to be home.”  On the map, Osceola is at the intersection due east of Creston.

Nice Visit

On TDY in Omaha from Muscatine on Thursday, October 25, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30 at Omaha plant.  No shipments today.  Gaugers still cap sealing.  I went to Mead’s for supper & visit afterwards.  Warm day.  To bed at 11 P.M.”

Homesick

On TDY in Omaha from Muscatine on Wednesday, October 24, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30 at Omaha plant.  Annotated 1 book of regulations for Whitney.  Inspectors still cap sealing on stills.  Went to the Sidwell’s for supper & evening of television.  Called Helen on their phone.”

‘Rommel’

On TDY in Omaha from Muscatine on Tuesday, October 23, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30 at Omaha.  Dvorak, Hayes, Leahy, & Gray at plant, also Rhodes & Smith.  Went to a show ‘Rommel’ at night & then visited with Mr. Larson.  To bed 10 P.M.”

Cap Sealing

On TDY in Omaha from Muscatine on Monday, October 22, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30 at Omaha plant.  Gilbert, Smith, Rhodes, Hayes, Augustine, Dvorak, & Gray at plant.  Cap sealing on still almost done.  Went out to Sidwell’s & Mead’s after supper.”  Above: the Omaha alcohol plant.

Back To Work

On Sunday, October 21, 1951, Dale wrote, “Mother worked in Marie’s store in the morning.  I went out to Wilma’s.  Drove to Omaha from 2 to 5 P.M.  Rested awhile & then to supper.  Larsons let me read their Sunday paper.  To bed 8 P.M.”  Dale’s sister Marie and Ralph Kimmel owned a small grocery and convenience store in Osceola, above (their old store is on the right, their new store is on the left).  Helen’s sister Wilma and George Casey owned a farm about two miles north of Osceola.  Dale returned to TDY in Omaha, where he rented a room in the Larson home.

Omaha TDY

In Osceola on Saturday, October 20, 1951, for the weekend (on temporary duty from Muscatine at the Omaha plant), Dale wrote, “Louie and Ruth have a new living room set.  Mother, Marie, Susan, and I went to Lloyd’s for dinner.  Called Helen on the phone.  Watched football on Marie’s TV in the afternoon.”  Louie was Helen’s brother; Marie was Dale’s sister (Susan her daughter), and Lloyd was Dale’s brother.  Omaha is 135 miles west of Osceola.

Pie And Coffee

Away from Muscatine on temporary duty at the Omaha alcohol plant, Dale drove to Osceola after work on Friday, October 19, 1951, for the weekend at Jettie’s home.  He wrote, “Lloyd, Marie, Susan, Mother and I had pie and coffee after a football game.”  Lloyd was Dale’s brother, Marie was Dale’s sister, and Susan was Marie’s daughter.

Dale Call Home

On TDY in Omaha from Muscatine on Thursday, October 18, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 to 4:30 at Omaha plant.  Cooler & rainy.  Hayes came this morning.  Called Helen at night.  She sounded good.  To bed about 10 P.M.”

Books Are Good

On TDY in Omaha from Muscatine on Wednesday, October 17, 1951, Dale wrote, “Worked 8 – 4:30 at Omaha plant helping Whitney.  Got my check cashed at Zale’s.  Went to a show before 6 P.M. then to room to read awhile.”

From Osceola To Omaha

On Tuesday, October 16, 1951, Dale drove from Osceola to Omaha for temporary duty at the alcohol plant there.  He found a room to rent on Poppleton Avenue for $1 per day.  Above: the 136-mile drive from Osceola, Iowa, to Omaha, Nebraska, mostly on U.S. Highway 34.

Hit The Road, Dale

In Muscatine on Monday, October 15, 1951, Dale was told to go to Omaha for a week or two on per diem.  After work, he drove to Osceola to spend the night at his mother Jettie’s house, and visited his sister Marie a little while.

Nice Day

In Muscatine on Sunday, October 14, 1951, Dale wrote, “Sat in the sun in backyard in the morning & talked to Margaret Sinnott.  Had chicken dinner.  Stan went nutting with Smiths.  Dalene went to a show with Sonja Sopher.  TV at night, nice evening.”  Above: Helen in our backyard.

Another Matinee

In Muscatine on Saturday, October 13, 1951, Dale wrote, “Helen & I washed in the morning.  Changed the oil & greased the car in afternoon.  Kids went to a show in the afternoon.  Dalene & I went to the library before supper.  TV at night.  Beautiful day, & warm.”

Good Football Game

In Muscatine on Friday, October 12, 1951, Dale wrote, “Stan and I went to a high school football game at night, Muscatine 28 – Mt. Pleasant 12.  Good game.”  Muscatine cheerleaders wore longer skirts back then.
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